Earlier this year, the ICMIF Foundation launched an appeal to ICMIF members to ask them to support Indian ICMIF member and ICMIF Foundation project partner the DHAN Foundation in its work supporting communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the time of the appeal, the DHAN Foundation had alerted the ICMIF Foundation to the scarcity of hospital care in rural areas; medicines and oxygen were in short supply; as was medical staff. As of the first week of May 2021, around 400,000 new cases were being reported daily with thousands of people dying each day.
The DHAN Foundation has been working on the front line to support communities in their fight against COVID-19 in rural India over the last year. Please watch this video for more information.
To help the DHAN Foundation continue these efforts during this even more devastating second wave, the ICMIF Foundation launched an appeal to ICMIF members to ask them to support the DHAN Foundation in its work with low-income communities during the pandemic.
CAMIC, a Canadian ICMIF member and association of mutual insurers in Canada, also launched the appeal to its members with the aim of demonstrating that mutuality has no limits, no borders. CAMIC’s goal is a solidarity effort whereby its members were also asked to support this dire need.
A number of CAMIC members have already pledged their support to the DHAN Foundation through donations to the appeal. These include Dufferin Mutual, Farm Mutual Re, Halwell Mutual, PEI Mutual, Portage Mutual, Stanley Mutual and Trillium Mutual. The total amount pledged so far is CAD 38,500.
Speaking about her company’s donation, Marg Torrance, President & CEO of Halwell Mutual said: “Halwell Mutual is proud to support the DHAN Foundation and their efforts alongside CAMIC and ICMIF in reducing the devastating impacts of COVID-19 in communities throughout India. This funding will support and enable India’s most vulnerable communities to safely navigate and recover from the global pandemic, a cause which Halwell passionately supports both at home and abroad.”
Speaking about his company’s donation, Ed Forbes, President & CEO of Dufferin Mutual, said: “Dufferin Mutual is proud to take part of CAMIC’s programme to support low-income communities in rural India. As a part of our mission, “serving as a good corporate citizen” extends beyond the local communities we serve on a daily basis. Now more than ever, we realise the importance of assisting those most vulnerable and hardest hit around the world during the global pandemic. Collectively, we can make a difference.”
Sangita Kamblé, President and CEO of CAMIC said: “The CAMIC Board of Directors supports the launch of this initiative to encourage all CAMIC members to support those in the greatest need in rural communities in India during COVID-19 by having a position of solidarity. Given that mutuality is at the forefront of CAMIC’s values, and understanding that mutuality has no borders, providing such support aligns completely with CAMIC’s value system.”
Sabbir Patel, CEO of the ICMIF Foundation said: “We are very grateful to Sangita and her members at CAMIC who have pledged to support the appeal. Mutual and community organisations are at the forefront of responses to the ongoing pandemic in emerging markets. They have people on the ground who have supported communities throughout the crisis. By CAMIC members coming together to support the appeal, this not only provides more impactful support, but delivers a message of solidarity from the sector to fellow mutuals and cooperatives in their time of need.”
Learn more about the ICMIF Foundation here.
ICMIF members wishing to donate to the ICMIF Foundation and thereby help the DHAN Foundation should contact Tina Blain, Resource Mobiliser, ICMIF Foundation.
The DHAN Foundation spoke about their work supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in a recent ICMIF webinar “Microinsurance and the Sustainable Development Goals.” A recording of the webinar is available to ICMIF members.
